Simion Matsvai * 

Great Zimbabwe University Department of Economics Box 1235 Masvingo, Zimbabwe 

Abstract  

Not all NGOs are politically oriented, others are development oriented hence justified complementary forces to developing countries’ governments. Without NGOs interventions, the Zimbabwean government have been and still Keywords: Sustainable Livelihoods; Sustainable Rural Development; Non-Governmental Organisations; spill-over effects; Sustainable Development Goals struggling to sustain rural livelihoods and rural development due to persistent fiscal deficits. The study sought to evaluate the impact of various NGO (UNDP, Christian Care, Action Faim and Heifer) interventions in Mutubuki Chitenderano Association (ward 36) in Gutu East. Knowledge gaps such as unavailability of research that specifically looks at Gutu whether at district or ward levels and literature on the impact of multiple programme participation together with spill-over effects of NGO interventions is still scant hence provide the rationale for undertaking this study. The study used primary data and descriptive statistics. Results indicated that NGOs play a critical role in complementing the government and each other in rural areas. Interventions resulted in agriculture productivity growth and average income growth, improved sustainability of livelihoods and rural development. Multiple intervention participation proved to be more beneficial than selective participation revealing complementarity of NGOs and generally participants much better off than non-participants. Positive spill-over effects to surrounding villagers also evidenced. Interventions resulted in women empowerment. Results also indicate that NGOs contribute immensely towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Keywords: Sustainable Livelihoods; Sustainable Rural Development; Non-Governmental Organisations; spill-over effects; Sustainable Development Goals